Alaska Science Center


ASC Data Repository

ASC is a USGS Trusted Digital Repository

Data Used to Assess the Acute Physiological Response of Polar Bears to Helicopter Capture

Data Download [980KB] | Metadata | AK Science Portal | Project Site | Date Range: 2008 - 2009


This dataset is in five tables with data from ecophysiological studies of free-ranging polar bears of the Southern Beaufort Sea subpopulation. They were equipped with high-resolution activity sensors, body temperature loggers, and GPS satellite-telemetry collars, to compare physiological state and activity of bears during natural behavior with that experienced by bears during helicopter recapture events (n = 14 bears). The data include: rectal temperatures for comparison to temperatures recorded by implanted loggers, levels of blood biochemical markers (n = 50 bears) related to elevated body temperature and stress for testing whether these markers were influenced by the duration of helicopter operations, ambient temperature, and dose of the immobilization drug.

Author(s): Whiteman, J. P.; Durner, G. M.

Suggested Citation:
Whiteman, J. P. and Durner, G. M., 2022, Data used to assess the acute physiological response of polar bears to helicopter capture: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9OKOCN1.

Referenced Publication(s):

Whiteman, J. P., H. J. Harlow, G. M. Durner, E. V. Regehr, S. C. Amstrup, A. M. Pagano, and M. Ben-David. 2022. The acute physiological response of polar bears to helicopter capture. Journal of Wildlife Management 86(5):e22238. doi:10.1002/jwmg.22238

Durner, G. M., J. P. Whiteman, H. J. Harlow, S. C. Amstrup, E. V. Regehr, and M. Ben-David. 2011. Consequences of long-distance swimming and travel over deep-water ice for a female polar bear during a year of extreme sea ice retreat. Polar Biology 34:975-984. doi:10.1007/s00300-010-0953-2

Whiteman, J. P., H. J. Harlow, G. M. Durner, R. Anderson-Sprecher, S. E. Albeke, E. V. Regehr, S. C. Amstrup, and M. Ben-David. 2015. Summer declines in activity and body temperature offer polar bears limited energy savings. Science 349(6245):295-298. doi:10.1126/science.aaa8623

Whiteman, J. P., H. J. Harlow, G. M. Durner, E. V. Regehr, B. C. Rourke, M. Robles, S. C. Amstrup, and M. Ben-David. 2017. Polar bears experience skeletal muscle atrophy in response to food deprivation and reduced activity in winter and summer. Conservation Physiology 5(1):cox049. doi:10.1093/conphys/cox049

Whiteman, J. P., H. J. Harlow, G. M. Durner, E. V. Regehr, S. C. Amstrup, and M. Ben-David. 2018. Phenotypic plasticity and climate change: can polar bears respond to longer Arctic summers with an adaptive fast?. Oecologia 186:369-381. doi:10.1007/s00442-017-4023-0

Whiteman, J. P., H. J. Harlow, G. M. Durner, E. V. Regehr, S. C. Amstrup, and M. Ben-David. 2019. Heightened immune system function in polar bears using terrestrial habitats. Physiological and Biochemical Zoology 92(1):1-11. doi:10.1086/698996


DataID: 475 | doi:10.5066/P9OKOCN1 | Date Posted Online: 2022-04-29 | Last Updated: 2022-04-29 12:05:42

Not finding what you are looking for? Let us know by contacting ascweb@usgs.gov